I am currently interested in getting some “big eye” binoculars in either 8x or 10x. I really want to like the Zeiss HT 10x54 as they seem to be a good size and I think they look great. I know a couple of people around here seem to like their 10x54s, but what has me hesitant are all the negative reviews and some YouTube videos I’ve seen online regarding build quality, smeary edges, and distortion. No one carries these for me to try out locally and I hate returning binoculars. Do those of you with experience, recommend these? Is there something else better in the alpha range to be considering (I know we all like Swarovski and I have a few models, but I’d rather these be Zeiss or Leica)? These will be used for many purposes (birding in low light, nature observation, a little astronomy, etc.) I have the 15x56 SLCs for astronomy, but those are pretty much tripod only for me (I like them a lot for that purpose, but not crazy about the SLC look and feel). I’d like a hand holdable big eye set. Thanks in advance.
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Zeiss HT 10x54 vs Other “Big Eyes” (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Lezeiss
- Start date
Conndomat
United States of Europe
Yeah, I read that. I normally love his reviews, but on this one it made me more confused. I can’t tell if he loves it or hates it. All I learned is that he doesn’t like it for astronomy!
Conndomat
United States of Europe
if you don't value very sharp edges, the HT 10x54 is a great glass!
The Swarovski 10x56 has somewhat sharper edges but is larger and heavier.
It's always a compromise, I like it when binoculars have a bit sharper edge, but at the same time I love my old Zeiss FL 10x56, it has advantages that other binoculars with these parameters do not have.
You can't go wrong with the HT 10x54 ...
Andreas
Lezeiss,
you read you saying „low light birding, nature observation, a little astronomy but only handheld“.
The 10x54 is perfectly suitable for the first two usages; I use it for that and find it superb in low light.
I don‘t use it for astronomy (I have other instruments for that), but I am sure it would work for me on objects like the moon, Jupiter with it‘s moons, and all other objects where you you use only the high sharpness in the central part of the image, and where the modest edge sharpness is not an issue. It will work best under dark skies.
However, the HT has not been designed with astronomy as an intended use, but rather for nature observation or hunting at low light, dusk or dawn, so this is where it will excel.
I find the HT very well finished, robust, with excellent build quality and a nice strong design, good to hold and handle. The only limitation: edge sharpness is not a strong point of the HT, and that has been the main criticism. But off-axis sharpness is not relevant in every situation.
Find out where you can try one out, or order it from a vendor with a good return policy, just in case (some dealers still carry it, but as far as I am aware, it is out of production at Zeiss). Hope it works for you!
Pinac
you read you saying „low light birding, nature observation, a little astronomy but only handheld“.
The 10x54 is perfectly suitable for the first two usages; I use it for that and find it superb in low light.
I don‘t use it for astronomy (I have other instruments for that), but I am sure it would work for me on objects like the moon, Jupiter with it‘s moons, and all other objects where you you use only the high sharpness in the central part of the image, and where the modest edge sharpness is not an issue. It will work best under dark skies.
However, the HT has not been designed with astronomy as an intended use, but rather for nature observation or hunting at low light, dusk or dawn, so this is where it will excel.
I find the HT very well finished, robust, with excellent build quality and a nice strong design, good to hold and handle. The only limitation: edge sharpness is not a strong point of the HT, and that has been the main criticism. But off-axis sharpness is not relevant in every situation.
Find out where you can try one out, or order it from a vendor with a good return policy, just in case (some dealers still carry it, but as far as I am aware, it is out of production at Zeiss). Hope it works for you!
Pinac
Thank you. That is very helpful. That makes sense that it wasn’t intended for astronomy.
I did not know it was out of production by Zeiss as it still seemed to be current on their website. Maybe they are about to introduce big eye SF’s?
I think you may be right since the big three really haven’t introduced any new big eye binos in years. I think Zeiss‘ HTs in 2014, Leica’s UVs in early 2000s, Swarovski‘s ELs in 2009? I guess that’s what we call a clue! Maybe It is a dying format.
forent
Well-known member
Leica 10x50 BA vs new models
"Absolutely. Sure, I can tell a difference at dusk between my Nikon 7x50 marine bins and my 10x25 BCA's, but a difference in brightness between the Nikons and my 7x42 UVHD+.......nah, and if I had to go out and read that number plate I'd certainly take the 10x42 NV's!" Yup. The 10x42 NV's are...
www.birdforum.net
Leica 10x50 BA vs new models
"Absolutely. Sure, I can tell a difference at dusk between my Nikon 7x50 marine bins and my 10x25 BCA's, but a difference in brightness between the Nikons and my 7x42 UVHD+.......nah, and if I had to go out and read that number plate I'd certainly take the 10x42 NV's!" Yup. The 10x42 NV's are...
www.birdforum.net
Swarovksi SLC 10x56 versus Zeiss Victory HT 10x54
The original plan was to get a 10x56 SLC but found a Victory HT 10x54, what are the pros/cons? Only interested in these two specific models.
www.birdforum.net
tenex
reality-based
Lezeiss, at this level you really have only two choices now, HT 54 or SLC 56. Having the 15x56 already you know just how another SLC will handle, and might prefer the haptics of the Zeiss. But optically there is a significant difference in sharpness of the outer field, which is excellent on the SLC. And here we may be talking not merely about the HT being "not quite sharp", but obviously distorted in a way I've seen on some other Zeiss models, and wouldn't accept myself at that price. (Then again, some really don't care.) You could try to research more about this, but given how subjective judgment is, it would be so much easier just to buy both HT and SLC, compare them yourself, and return one.
Loud Green Man
Well-known member
Conndomat
United States of Europe
I think Andy means the hunters who are now increasingly using thermal imaging cameras and night vision devices ?! Probably also a reason why the 8 / 10x56 are slowly getting thin, the customers are being lost.
Andreas
Just a quick update. I received my HT 10x54s today and I am extremely happy so far. I’ve yet to experience any of the bad issues I had read previously online. Build quality and looks are perfect. Focus wheel is perfect. Very smooth. Crispness and brightness of the image is the best I’ve seen. I don’t really notice the smeary edges I’ve read about (or I’m not advanced enough for it to bother me). I do notice some distortion at the edges, but it doesn’t bother me at all. So far, these fulfill exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks to everyone for your comments above.
Thanks to everyone for your comments above.
tenex
reality-based
Thanks for confirming that... and stop listening to me instantly. Enjoy your HTs!
bockos
Well-known member
Много ще се радвам да видя нов Swarovski10x50NL или голям x50 Zeiss или x50 Leica. Но не видях никаква нова информация по този въпрос. Най -вероятно x50 NL ..
tenex
reality-based
Actually, no, he can't very easily, as his phone just keeps translating everything right back into Bulgarian. What bockos said was:
"I will be very happy to see a new Swarovski10x50NL or a big x50 Zeiss or x50 Leica. But I did not see any new information on this issue. Most likely x50 NL .."